Improvement in illuminating devices



L. B. GRIFFITH.

.ILLUMINA'IIN-G n-nvrcn.

No. 175,348. Patented March 2-2, 11876.

N. PETERS. PNOTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D. 6..

NlTED PATENT 'orrron.

IMPROVEMENT IN ILLUMI'NATI NG DEVICES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0- l75,348, dated March 28, 1876; application filed November 27, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, LEVI B. GRIFFITH, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Illumination; and I do hereby declare the following to be a clear and exact description of the nature thereof, sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to fully understand, make, and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation, showing the method of illumination accordingto my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification. Fig. 3 is a top view of the reservoir. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section thereof in line 00 m, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a transverse section in line y 3 Fig. 3. Fig. 6is a sectional view (enlarged) of the portion in line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention relates to a method of illuminating apartments by means of kerosene or other oil; and it consists of conveying-pipes and a reservoir so constructed that the oil cannot overflow at the burner, and it will reach the lowest point of absorption of the wick, even when the supply in the reservoir is almost exhausted, in com bination with an outlet for withdrawing the oil' from the burners and pipes in cases of repairs and cleansing, and for purposes of safety against fire.

Referring to the drawings, A represents an apartment to be illuminated, and B a closet or store-room, with a shelf or bracket, (3, for support of an oil-reservoir, D. Communicating with the reservoir is downwardlyextending pipe, E, which is connected to and communicates with a distributing pipe or pipes, F, arranged in the apartment under the floor for low lights, or above the same for ceiling-lights. From the pipe F there extends upward a series of pipes, G, which support the lamps G. Between the burners of the lamps and the upwardly-extending pipes G there arearranged chambers H, which receive the lower portions of the wicks of the lamps. The reservoir D is preferably a shallow body, its depth being such that when the body is properly elevated, or in operative position, the oil therein cannot stand higher than 1 a line, a, just below the burning-point of the burners of the lamp, and thelowest point will be above the lowest part of the wicks in the chambers H, as shown by the line b. For this purpose the top 0 of the reservoir will be on a level with the line a, and the bottom 01 with the line b. J represents an opening for replenishing the reservoir with oil, and K an opening for passage of air expelled duringthe filling operation.

In order to exhibit the state of the oil in the reservoir I apply to the latter a gage, L, which is of transparent material.

M represents a cock between the reservoir and pipe E, for feeding and shutting 011' the oil to and from the distributing-pipe F; and N represents a draw'otf cock, which is located in relation to the distributing pipe or pipes F, or at a point at or below the junction ofthe pipe E and pipe or pipes F.

The operation is as follows: The oil is placed in the reservoir D, and when light is required the cock M is turned so that the oil will flow through the pipes E, F, andGsimultaneously to the chambers H, whereby the wick will be properly supplied.

It will be seen that the oil cannot flow above the burning-point of the lamp, owing to the height of the oil "in the reservoir never exceeding the level of said point, and as long as there is oil in the reservoir, owing to the lowest level thereof being on line with the lowest point that oil can reach the wicks in the chambers H, the wicks will always be properly supplied, and the lights will not be extinguished. I

. The state of the oil will be duly indicated by the gage L, and as access is readily had to the reservoir the replenishing thereof may be conveniently accomplished.

It will also be seen that the lamps are in .no danger of overturning, &c., and carrying and handling thereof while lighted are avoided.

When the pipes are to be cleansed, repaired, or removed, the cock M will be shut off and the cock N turned 011, whereby the oil in the pipes F and G and the chambers H will flow out at said cock N, and it may be replaced in the reservoir D.

The reservoir D and pipe E are attached to each other by a coupling which admits of air-opening K, in combination with the downtheir disconnection when required. wardly-extending feed-pipe E, distributing- The pipe F may be extended to any repipe F, and the supporting-pipe G, and with quired lengths, and the oil thereby conducted the outlet-cook N intermediate of the feedto distant points of an apartment or dwelling. pipe and distributing-pipe, all as set forth,

Having thus described my invention, what and for the purpose specified.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is LEVI B. GRIFFITH.

The reservoir D, constructed of a flat body, Witnesses: with the top and bottom a d of the levels, as JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM,

stated, and with the supply-opening J and JNo. A. BELL. 

